Luggage construction



Feb. 17, 1953 M KUSHNER LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nv. 19, 1949 VIII/1111111111111.

INVENTOR. MINNH Kust-NER PrrroRNY Patented Feb. 17,1953

LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION Minna. Kushner, Almonesso'nfN. J., a's's'ignor of fifty per cent to Julian E. GoldbergfPhiladelphia, Pa. v

Applicaton'Novemb'er 19, 1949, Serial No. .128,379

1 Claim. 1

,This invention relates generally to luggage and more particularly to an improved construction of luggage case having incorporated therein a positionally adjustable partition member designed to divide the main compartment of the case into sections which are of most conveniently usable size.

In'the luggage case of conventional construction having a single main compartment, it is frequently the case that the articles placed in the compartment occupy but a small portion of its space and consequently shift about in the compartment with` possible resulting damage to the articles. Also, in the ordinary single compartment luggage case relatively small articles become so intermingled with other articles, packed in the case that their removal necessitates such rummaging through the case as to completely disarrange the originally neatly packed articles, this being especially inconvenient and annoying when such rummaging results in rumpling of wearing apparel.

Having in mind the foregoing, it is among the principal objects of the present invention to equip the main compartment of a luggage case with a positionally adjustable partition or divider which is readily and conveniently shiftable into any desired position to provide in the compartment a conned space of limited area for the accommo dation of relatively small articles desired to be readily accessible. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it beingunderstood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, locathe accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Which are illustrative `of certain preferred embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a luggage case constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front; end elevational view, partially in section, of the positionally adjustable divider and its supporting rods;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion embraced by the dotted line circle of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view corresponding to that of Figure 3, but showing a modied arrangement of the means for locking the divider in adjusted position;

Figure 5 is'an Velevational view of a preferred mounting arrangement for the end of the supporting rod; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of "the mounting arrangement shown in Figure 5.

Referring novv more particularly to the drawings, Iit lwill be observed that lin accordance with the present invention, the luggage caselli of conjventional `construction is internally tted with a ydivider `I vI formed of Aany suitably rigid flat'mat'erial, Asaid divider being of ashape and'size substantially in correspondence with the shape and size of the end Avvalls I2-I2 Aof the luggage case 'and being adapted for disposition in substantially yparallel relation to said endwalls.

ns"mostfclearlyappears in yFigure 1, the inner end of the divider I I is slidably mounted upon a pair of vertically spaced, parallel supporting rods I3-I4 extending longitudinally of the case immediately adjacent the rear Wall I5 thereof. While these supporting rods I3-I4 may be secured in position in any suitable manner, it is preferred that they be removably secured in place by means such as are shown in Figures 5 and 6, such means including for each end of a rod a fixture having a :dat mounting plate I6 suitably provided With an externally threaded boss I1 which is adapted to threadedly receive a rod-embracing sleeve I8. The mounting plates I6 are each permanently secured to the inner surfaces of the end Walls I2-I2 of the case, their relatively fixed threaded arrangement being such as to provide an axially alined pair of the bosses I'I for each of the supporting rods I3-I4. Thus, When the sleeves I8 are respectively threaded upon the bosses, they provide axially alined pairs of sockets I9 for accommodating therein the opposite ends of the supporting rods.

The divider II, which is slidably supported upon these rods I3-I4, may then be shifted longitudinally thereof to divide the interior of the case into two compartments. Or, if more than one divider is mounted upon the supporting rods, three or more separate compartments may be provided.

In order to secure the divider or dividers in any desired xed position, the uppermost opening 20 in the divider through Which the rod I3 projects is internally taper-threaded, as at 2I, for reception of a complementally tapered, externally threaded extension 22 of a locking member 23 slidably tted upon the rod I3. The threaded extension 22 is longitudinally slit, as at 24, and is provided at its outer end with enlarged ngerengaging part 25 by means of which the slitted extension 22 may be driven into its threaded socket in the divider Il and so cause the member 23 to be immovably clamped upon the rod I3, thereby simultaneously fixedly securing the divider in its adjusted position.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative means for fixing the divider in position, said means consisting simply of a set screw 26 threaded into the top edge of the divider for binding engagement with the uppermost supporting rod i3.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides an exceedingly simple, inexpensive and effective arrangement for providinga luggage case with one or more compartments of any desired limited area or space for the accommodation of small, sundry articles.

It will be understood. ofcourse, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

In a. traveling case having a main compartment bounded by longitudinally extending front and rear walls and right angularly related end walls, an arrangement for subdividing said main `compartment of the case comprising a positionally, adjustable partition member adapted to be disposed transversely of said compartment and in substantially parallel relation to the opposite end walls thereof, said member being ofa depth substantially equal to that of the compartment, a pair of supporting rods, said pair of rods extending between and secured to said end walls and arranged in vertically spaced parallel rela- 4 tion in close proximity to one of the longitudinally extending walls of said compartment, said partition member having vertically spaced transverse openings adiacent one end thereof respectively adapted for projection of said rods therethrough whereby to support said member in laterally extending relation with respect to said rods for slidable movement lengthwise thereof into adjusted position paralleling said end walls of the traveling case, and a longitudinally split, conical element slidable upon one of said rods and threadedly engageable in that opening in the partition member through which the rod projects -to clampingly engage the rod and so secure the partition thereto at any desired point along the length thereof.

MINNA KUSHNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 563,695 Toquet July 7, 1896 619,456 Williamson Feb. 14, 1899 653,177 Hamilton July 3, 1900 928,336 Sargent July 20, 1909 1,189,835 Labadie et al. July 4, 1916 1,673,730 Bartels June l2, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 204,580 Germany Nov. 30, 1908 

